Camera

ABSTRACT

When a mirror holder is at a mirror-down position, a follower portion traces a first region of a cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position by an urging force of an urging member. When the mirror holder is at a mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second region of the cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-up position by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at an intermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, a contact portion is contacted with one edge of a hole by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position or near the mirror-up position, the contact portion is contacted with an opposite edge of the hole against the urging force of the urging member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera such as a digital single-lensreflex camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

A single-lens reflex camera includes a main mirror and a sub-mirror bothheld (in a mirror-down position) between an imaging lens and an imagepickup unit. At the startup of exposure, the main mirror and thesub-mirror are retracted (into a mirror-up position) from themirror-down position between the imaging lens and the image pickup unit.After the end of the exposure, the main mirror and the sub-mirror arereturned to the mirror-down position again.

In such a single-lens reflex camera, it is known to drive the sub-mirrorbetween the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position by employinga toggle spring (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-85762). When thesub-mirror is driven between the mirror-down position and the mirror-upposition by employing the toggle spring, the toggle spring is arrangedsuch that the sub-mirror can be urged in a mirror-down direction at themirror-down position and can be urged in a mirror-up direction at themirror-up position.

However, when the sub-mirror is driven between the mirror-down positionand the mirror-up position by employing the toggle spring, large torqueis required to reverse an urging direction of the toggle spring.Accordingly, the above-mentioned mechanism is disadvantageous when themirror has to be driven at a high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a camera including a mirror holderarranged to hold a mirror and being rotatable between a mirror-upposition and a mirror-down position, a mirror box, an adjusting memberarranged to adjust the mirror-down position of the mirror holder withrotation of the adjusting member relative to the mirror box, a rotatingmember rotatably mounted to the adjusting member, and an urging memberarranged to urge the rotating member in one direction. The mirror boxincludes a hole and the mirror holder includes a cam portion. Therotating member includes a contact portion arranged to be able tocontact with one edge of the hole and a follower portion arranged to beable to trace the cam portion. When the mirror holder is at themirror-down position, the follower portion traces a first region of thecam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position byan urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at themirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second region of thecam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-up position bythe urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at anintermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-upposition, the contact portion is contacted with the one edge of the holeby the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder isbounced near the mirror-down position or near the mirror-up position,the contact portion is contacted with an opposite edge of the holeagainst the urging force of the urging member.

According to the present invention, the mirror can be urged in amirror-down direction at the mirror-down position and can be urged in amirror-up direction at the mirror-up position without needing largetorque when the urging direction is reversed. Moreover, the mirror canbe driven stably.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory views of a digital single-lens reflexcamera.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view to explain the structure of amirror unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view to explain, in detail, a sub-mirror angleadjustment member, a sub-mirror bounce suppression member, and asub-mirror bounce suppression spring, which are all arranged on the leftside of a mirror box.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are three-side views of the mirror unit;specifically, FIG. 4A is a left side view of the mirror unit, FIG. 4B isa front view of the mirror unit, and FIG. 4C is a right side view of themirror unit.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the mirror unit with omission of some partsconstituting the mirror unit.

FIG. 6 is an illustration looking in a direction denoted by an arrow Ain FIG. 5A when a sub-mirror holder is at a mirror-down position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views taken along a section VIIA, XA,XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder is at the mirror-down position.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views taken along a section VIIIA, XIA,XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when thesub-mirror holder is at the mirror-down position.

FIG. 9 is an illustration looking in the direction denoted by the arrowA in FIG. 5A when the sub-mirror holder is at an intermediate positionbetween the mirror-down position and a mirror-up position.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views taken along the section VIIA, XA,XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder is at the intermediate position between themirror-down position and the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views taken along the section VIIIA,XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B whenthe sub-mirror holder is at the intermediate position between themirror-down position and the mirror-up position.

FIG. 12 is an illustration looking in the direction denoted by the arrowA in FIG. 5A when the sub-mirror holder is at the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are sectional views taken along the section VIIA, XA,XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder is at the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are sectional views taken along the section VIIIA,XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B whenthe sub-mirror holder is at the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are sectional views taken along the section VIIA, XA,XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are sectional views taken along the section VIIIA,XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B whenthe sub-mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-up position.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are sectional views taken along the section VIIA, XA,XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are sectional views taken along the section VIIIA,XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B whenthe sub-mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory views of a digital single-lens reflexcamera embodying the present invention.

In FIG. 1A, an interchangeable lens 2 is mounted to a camera body 1. Thecamera body 1 includes a focus detection unit 3, an optical finder unit4, a mirror unit 5, and an image pickup sensor 6. The mirror unit 5includes a main mirror holder 502 for holding a main mirror 501 and asub-mirror holder 504 for holding a sub-mirror 503.

In a state illustrated in FIG. 1A, a light beam having passed throughthe interchangeable lens 2 is divided by the main mirror 501. The lightbeam reflected by the main mirror 501 is introduced to a pentaprism 41of the optical finder unit 4. On the other hand, the light beam havingpassed through the main mirror 501 is reflected by the sub-mirror 504and is introduced to the focus detection unit 3. Accordingly, in thestate of FIG. 1A, the light beam having passed through theinterchangeable lens 2 is not introduced to the image pickup sensor 6.When the state of FIG. 1A is established, the main mirror holder 502 andthe sub-mirror holder 504 are located at the mirror-down position.

In a state illustrated in FIG. 1B, the main mirror holder 502 isretracted to an upper region of the mirror unit 5 from the state of FIG.1A. At that time, the sub-mirror holder 504 is also retracted to theupper region of the mirror unit 5 in a state overlapped with the mainmirror holder 502. In the state of FIG. 1B, the light beam having passedthrough the interchangeable lens 2 is introduced to the image pickupsensor 6 without being introduced to the optical finder unit 4 and thefocus detection unit 3. When the state of FIG. 1B is established, themain mirror holder 502 and the sub-mirror holder 504 are located at themirror-up position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main mirror holder 502 and thesub-mirror holder 504 are movable between the mirror-down position andthe mirror-up position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view to explain the structure of themirror unit 5.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view to explain, in detail, a sub-mirror angleadjustment member 511, a sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512, and asub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510, which are all arranged on theleft side of a mirror box 500.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are three-side views of the mirror unit 5;specifically, FIG. 4A is a left side view of the mirror unit 5, FIG. 4Bis a front view of the mirror unit 5, and FIG. 4C is a right side viewof the mirror unit 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the main mirror 501 is held by the main mirrorholder 502. The main mirror holder 502 includes shafts 502 a and 502 c.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the main mirror holder 502 ispivotally supported by the mirror box 500 at the shafts 502 a. The mainmirror holder 502 is rotatable about the shafts 502 a as a pivotalcenter such that it is rotated between the mirror-down position and themirror-up position.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, in a state where the main mirror holder 502is pivotally supported by the mirror box 500 at the shafts 502 a, theshaft 502 c is positioned to be exposed through an elongate hole that isformed in the mirror box 500. One end of a mirror-down spring 506attached to the right side of the mirror box 500 is hooked on the shaft502 c exposed through the elongate hole of the mirror box 500. The otherend of the mirror-down spring 506 is hooked on the mirror box 500.Therefore, the main mirror holder 502 is urged toward the mirror-downposition by an urging force of the mirror-down spring 506.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sub-mirror 503 is held on the sub-mirrorholder 504. Holes 504 a and a cam portion 504 b are formed in thesub-mirror holder 504. The sub-mirror holder 504 is pivotally supportedby the main mirror holder 502 in such a state that shafts formed on themain mirror holder 502 are inserted in the holes 504 a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4C, when the main mirror holder 502 isrotated into the mirror-down position, the sub-mirror holder 504 is alsorotated into the mirror-down position where the sub-mirror 503 reflectsthe light beam having passed through the main mirror 501 to beintroduced to the focus detection unit 3.

A mirror-down stopper 500 b (see FIG. 12) is formed at a front lower endof the mirror box 500. When the main mirror holder 502 is rotated intothe mirror-down position, a contact portion 502 b (see FIG. 12) of themain mirror holder 502 is contacted with the mirror-down stopper 500 b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4B, a mirror stopper 505 is attached to afront upper end of the mirror box 500. A contact portion 505 a is formedin the mirror stopper 505 a. When the main mirror holder 502 is rotatedinto the mirror-up position, a contact portion 502 d (see FIG. 12) ofthe main mirror holder 502 is contacted with the contact portion 505 aof the mirror stopper 505.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4C, a main mirror driving mechanism fordriving the main mirror holder 502 is disposed on the right side of themirror box 500.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4C, a mirror driving lever 507 includes atubular portion 507 a, a contact portion 507 b, and a follower portion507 c. The mirror driving lever 507 is rotatably mounted to the mirrorbox 500 in such a state that a shaft 500 d formed on the right side ofthe mirror box 500 is inserted in the tubular portion 507 a. When themirror driving lever 507 is rotated, the contact portion 507 b iscontacted with the shaft 502 c of the main mirror holder 502. When thecontact portion 507 b of the mirror driving lever 507 rotationallypushes up the shaft 502 c of the main mirror holder 502 against theurging force of the mirror-down spring 506, the main mirror holder 502is brought into the mirror-up position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4C, a mirror-up spring 508 is arrangedsuch that the tubular portion 507 a is inserted in a winding portion ofthe mirror-up spring 508. One end of the mirror-up spring 508 is hookedon the mirror driving lever 507, and the other end of the mirror-upspring 508 is hooked on the mirror box 500. When the mirror drivinglever 507 is rotated by an urging force of the mirror-up spring 508, themain mirror holder 502 can be moved toward the mirror-up positionagainst the urging force of the mirror-down spring 506.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a cam gear 509 is mounted to the right side ofthe mirror box 500 to be rotatable about a rotation center 509 a. Thecam gear 509 includes a cam portion 509 b and a gear portion 509 d. Thegear portion 509 d is meshed with a gear of a driving motor 7 that isdisposed on the camera body 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the cam portion 509 b is contacted with thefollower portion 507 c of the mirror driving lever 507. It is to benoted that the gear portion 509 d is omitted in FIG. 4C. When thedriving motor 7 is driven, the cam gear 509 is rotated. The rotation ofthe cam gear 509 causes the follower portion 507 c of the mirror drivinglever 507 to trace the cam portion 509 b, whereby the mirror drivinglever 507 is rotated. With the rotation of the mirror driving lever 507,the main mirror holder 502 is moved between the mirror-down position andthe mirror-up position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4A, a positioning and bounce suppressionmechanism for the sub-mirror holder 504 is disposed on the left side ofthe mirror box 500. More specifically, the sub-mirror angle adjustmentmember 511, to which the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 ispivotally supported, and the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510are mounted to the left side of the mirror box 500.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511includes a contact portion 511 b and a hole 511 c.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, when the sub-mirror holder 504 is rotatedinto the mirror-down position, the sub-mirror holder 504 is contactedwith the contact portion 511 b, whereby the mirror-down position of thesub-mirror holder 504 is determined. By rotating the sub-mirror angleadjustment member 511 about a rotation center 511 a, the position of thecontact portion 511 b is changed and the mirror-down position of thesub-mirror holder 504 is also changed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512includes a rotation shaft 512 a, a spring hook portion 512 b, and afollower portion 512 c. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a contact portion 512f is formed at the root of the follower portion 512 c. The rotationshaft 512 a of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 is insertedin the hole 511 c of the sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511.Accordingly, the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 is mounted tothe sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511 to be rotatable within acertain range. The sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 functions asa rotating member. The rotatable range of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is limited to a movable range of the engagingportion 512 d within the rotation limiting portion 511 d. The followerportion 512 c and the contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 are inserted in a hole 500 a (see FIGS. 8A and8B) formed in the left side of the mirror box 500. Accordingly, therotatable range of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 islimited to a movable range of the contact portion 512 f within the hole500 a. The follower portion 512 c traces the cam portion 504 b of thesub-mirror holder 504.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, one end of the sub-mirror bounce suppressionspring 510 is hooked on the spring hook portion 512 b of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression member 512. The other end of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression spring 510 is hooked on the mirror box 500. The sub-mirrorbounce suppression spring 510 applies an urging force acting to rotatethe sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 counterclockwise. Thus, thesub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510 functions as an urging memberfor urging the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 in onedirection.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the mirror unit 5 with omission of some partsconstituting the mirror unit 5 for easier understanding of theexplanation.

FIG. 5A corresponds to FIG. 4B while the mirror box 500 is omitted andonly the contact portion 505 a of the mirror stopper 505 is illustratedin FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is further simplified by omitting, from FIG. 5A, themain mirror 501, the main mirror holder 502, and the main mirror drivingmechanism disposed on the right side of the mirror box 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates the state of FIG. 5A, looking in a direction denotedby an arrow A in FIG. 5A. Specifically, FIG. 6 is an illustrationlooking in the direction denoted by the arrow A in FIG. 5A when the mainmirror holder 502 and the sub-mirror holder 504 are at the mirror-downposition.

In the state of FIG. 6, the mirror-up spring 508 applies an urging forceto rotate the mirror driving lever 507 counterclockwise. However,because the follower portion 507 c of the mirror driving lever 507 iscontacted with the cam portion 509 b of the cam gear 509, the mirrordriving lever 507 is not rotated counterclockwise and is heldstandstill. Furthermore, in the state of FIG. 6, the contact portion 507b of the mirror driving lever 507 is not contacted with the shaft 502 cof the main mirror holder 502. Accordingly, the shaft 502 c of the mainmirror holder 502 is urged by the urging force of the mirror-down spring506 in the mirror-down direction.

When the main mirror holder 502 is at the mirror-down position, thesub-mirror holder 504 is also at the mirror-down position where it iscontacted with the contact portion 511 b of the sub-mirror angleadjustment member 511.

FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along a section VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA,XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B. Specifically, FIG. 7A is asectional view, corresponding to FIG. 6, taken along the section VIIA,XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when thesub-mirror holder 504 is at the mirror-down position. FIG. 7B is anenlarged view of an area surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 7A.

In a state of FIG. 7A, because the one end of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression spring 510 is hooked on the spring hook portion 512 b of thesub-mirror bounce suppression member 512, the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is urged clockwise about the rotation center(shaft) 512 a.

At that time, the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is contacted with a first region 504 b-1 of thecam portion 504 b of the sub-mirror holder 504. A position where thefollower portion 512 c is contacted with the first region 504 b-1 of thecam portion 504 b is located under the rotation center 512 a of thesub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 and above the rotation center(hole) 504 a of the sub-mirror holder 504. The first region 504 b-1 ofthe cam portion 504 b has such a shape that, when the follower portion512 c is contacted with the first region 504 b-1 of the cam portion 504b, the sub-mirror holder 504 is urged counterclockwise by the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. Therefore, thesub-mirror holder 504 is urged counterclockwise by the urging force ofthe sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. As a result, thesub-mirror holder 504 is urged toward the mirror-down position by theurging force of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the first region 504 b-1, a secondregion 504 b-2, and a third region 504 b-3 are formed in the cam portion504 b. As described above, when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at themirror-down position, the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression member 512 is contacted with the first region 504 b-1of the cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirror holder 504. Hence, thesub-mirror holder 504 is urged toward the mirror-down position by theurging force of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510.

FIG. 8A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B, takenalong the section VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA,XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the mirror-downposition. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of an area surrounded by a dottedline in FIG. 8A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the sub-mirror holder 504 is atthe mirror-down position, a left edge of the hole 500 a formed in themirror box 500 and the contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 are not contacted with each other. Morespecifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the sub-mirror holder 504is at the mirror-down position, a gap 1001 is formed between the leftedge of the hole 500 a and the contact portion 512 f. Furthermore, inthat state, a right edge (opposite edge) of the hole 500 a formed in themirror box 500 and the contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 are also not contacted with each other. Statedanother way, when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the mirror-downposition, a gap 1002 is formed between the right edge of the hole 500 aand the contact portion 512 f as illustrated in FIG. 8B. In such astate, therefore, the rotation of the sub-mirror bounce suppressionmember 512 is not limited.

FIG. 9 is an illustration looking in the direction denoted by the arrowA in FIG. 5A when the main mirror holder 502 and the sub-mirror holder504 are at an intermediate position between the mirror-down position andthe mirror-up position.

Specifically, FIG. 9 illustrates a state where the cam gear 509 isrotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 6 to such an extent thatthe contact between the follower portion 507 c of the mirror drivinglever 507 and the cam portion 509 b of the cam gear 509 is released. Insuch a state, the mirror driving lever 507 is rotated counterclockwiseby the urging force of the mirror-up spring 508. The contact portion 507b of the mirror driving lever 507 is contacted with the shaft 502 c ofthe main mirror holder 502, thus rotationally pushing up the shaft 502 cof the main mirror holder 502 against the urging force of themirror-down spring 506.

FIG. 10A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 9, taken along thesection VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG.5B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the intermediate positionbetween the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position. FIG. 10B isan enlarged view of an area surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 10A.

In a state of FIG. 10A, the sub-mirror holder 504 is rotated clockwisefrom the state of FIG. 7A. Therefore, the contact between the followerportion 512 c of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 and thefirst region 504 b-1 of the cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirror holder504 is released.

On that occasion, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is rotated clockwise about the rotation center512 a. At the same time, the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression member 512 is contacted with the third region 504 b-3of the cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirror holder 504. The third region504 b-3 has such a shape that, when the follower portion 512 c iscontacted with the third region 504 b-3 of the cam portion 504 b, thesub-mirror holder 504 is urged neither clockwise nor counterclockwise bythe urging force of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510.Furthermore, in the state of FIGS. 10A and 10B, a position of therotation center 504 a of the sub-mirror holder 504 in the heightdirection is substantially at the same level as that of the followerportion 512 c of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 in theheight direction. With such a positional relationship, even when thethird region 504 b-3 is formed in any shape, it is difficult to urge thesub-mirror holder 504 by the urging force of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression spring 510. Accordingly, at the position where the followerportion 512 c is contacted with the third region 504 b-3 of the camportion 504 b, the sub-mirror holder 504 is not urged toward themirror-down position and toward the mirror-up position.

FIG. 11A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B,taken along the section VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA,XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at theintermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-upposition. FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of an area surrounded by a dottedline in FIG. 11A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the sub-mirror holder 504 isat the intermediate position between the mirror-down position and themirror-up position, the left edge of the hole 500 a formed in the mirrorbox 500 and the contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 are contacted with each other. More specifically,when the sub-mirror holder 504 is moved from the mirror-down positiontoward the mirror-up position, the sub-mirror bounce suppression member512 is rotated clockwise about the rotation center 512 a by the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. Accordingly, thecontact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 ismoved from the position illustrated in FIG. 8B in a direction to reducethe gap 1001, thus coming into contact with the left edge of the hole500 a.

Upon the contact portion 512 f coming into contact with the left edge ofthe hole 500 a, the clockwise rotation of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is limited. The contact of the contact portion512 f with the left edge of the hole 500 a determines the position ofthe sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 when the sub-mirror holder504 is at the intermediate position between the mirror-down position andthe mirror-up position. Thus, the position of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at theintermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-upposition is determined by the mirror box 500.

If the position of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 when thesub-mirror holder 504 is at the intermediate position between themirror-down position and the mirror-up position is determined by causingthe sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 to come into contact withthe sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511, the above-mentioned positionof the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512, i.e., the positionthereof when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the intermediate positionbetween the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, isdetermined by the sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511.

The sub-mirror angle adjustment member 511 serves to adjust themirror-down position of the sub-mirror holder 504 with rotation thereof.Accordingly, when the mirror-down position of the sub-mirror holder 504is adjusted, the position of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member512 when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the intermediate positionbetween the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position is alsochanged. Stated another way, a moving locus of the sub-mirror holder 504is also changed with the adjustment of the mirror-down position by thesub-mirror angle adjustment member 511. Such a change adversely affectsstable operation of the sub-mirror holder 504.

According to the embodiment, even when the mirror-down position of thesub-mirror holder 504 is adjusted to any position, the above-mentionedposition of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 is determinedby the left edge of the hole 500 a formed in the mirror box 500. Thus,the position of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 when thesub-mirror holder 504 is at the intermediate position between themirror-down position and the mirror-up position is held constantregardless of a rotational angle of the sub-mirror angle adjustmentmember 511. In other words, the moving locus of the sub-mirror holder504 is not changed even when the mirror-down position is adjusted by thesub-mirror angle adjustment member 511. As a result, the sub-mirrorholder 504 can be driven stably.

FIG. 12 is an illustration looking in the direction denoted by the arrowA in FIG. 5A when the main mirror holder 502 and the sub-mirror holder504 are at the mirror-up position.

FIG. 12 illustrates a state where the mirror driving lever 507 isfurther rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the mirror-upspring 508 from the state of FIG. 9. More specifically, the contactportion 507 b of the mirror driving lever 507 further rotationallypushes up the shaft 502 c of the main mirror holder 502 against theurging force of the mirror-down spring 506. The contact portion 502 d ofthe main mirror holder 502 is thereby contacted with the contact portion505 a of the mirror stopper 505.

FIG. 13A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 12, taken along thesection VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG.5B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at the mirror-up position. FIG. 13Bis an enlarged view of an area surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 13A.

In a state of FIG. 13A, the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 isurged clockwise about the rotation center 512 a.

At that time, the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is contacted with the second region 504 b-2 ofthe cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirror holder 504. A position where thefollower portion 512 c is contacted with the second region 504 b-2 ofthe cam portion 504 b is located under both the rotation center 512 a ofthe sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 and the rotation center 504a of the sub-mirror holder 504. The second region 504 b-2 of the camportion 504 b has such a shape that, when the follower portion 512 c iscontacted with the second region 504 b-2 of the cam portion 504 b, thesub-mirror holder 504 is urged clockwise by the urging force of thesub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. Therefore, the sub-mirrorholder 504 is urged clockwise by the urging force of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression spring 510. As a result, the sub-mirror holder 504 isurged toward the mirror-up position by the urging force of thesub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510.

FIG. 14A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIGS. 12, 13A and 13B,taken along the section VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA,XVIA, XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is at themirror-up position. FIG. 14B is an enlarged view of an area surroundedby a dotted line in FIG. 14A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, when the sub-mirror holder 504 isat the mirror-up position, the left edge of the hole 500 a formed in themirror box 500 and the contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 are not contacted with each other. Morespecifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, when the sub-mirror holder 504is at the mirror-up position, a gap 1003 is formed between the left edgeof the hole 500 a and the contact portion 512 f. Furthermore, in thatstate, the right edge of the hole 500 a formed in the mirror box 500 andthe contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member512 are also not contacted with each other. Stated another way, when thesub-mirror holder 504 is at the mirror-up position, a gap 1004 is formedbetween the right edge of the hole 500 a and the contact portion 512 fas illustrated in FIG. 14B. In such a state, therefore, the rotation ofthe sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 is not limited.

FIG. 15A is a sectional view taken along the section VIIA, XA, XIIIA,XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when the sub-mirrorholder 504 is bounced near the mirror-up position. FIG. 15B is anenlarged view of an area surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 15A.

When the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near the mirror-up position,the second region 504 b-2 of the cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirrorholder 504 pushes the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512. The sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 isrotated counterclockwise against the urging force of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression spring 510.

FIG. 16A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIGS. 15A and 15B, takenalong the section VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA,XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near themirror-up position. FIG. 16B is an enlarged view of an area surroundedby a dotted line in FIG. 16A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, when the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is rotated counterclockwise against the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510, the contactportion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 iscontacted with the right edge of the hole 500 a.

Accordingly, even when the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near themirror-up position, bouncing energy is consumed by causing thesub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 to move against the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. Moreover, sincethe contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member512 is contacted with the right edge of the hole 500 a, a bounce amountof the sub-mirror holder 504 is limited.

FIG. 17A is a sectional view taken along the section VIIA, XA, XIIIA,XVA, XVIIA-VIIA, XA, XIIIA, XVA, XVIIA in FIG. 5B when the sub-mirrorholder 504 is bounced near the mirror-down position. FIG. 17B is anenlarged view of an area surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 17A.

When the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near the mirror-down position,the first region 504 b-1 of the cam portion 504 b of the sub-mirrorholder 504 pushes the follower portion 512 c of the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512. The sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 isrotated counterclockwise against the urging force of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression spring 510.

FIG. 18A is a sectional view, corresponding to FIGS. 17A and 17B, takenalong the section VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA, XVIIIA-VIIIA, XIA, XIVA, XVIA,XVIIIA in FIG. 4B when the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near themirror-down position. FIG. 18B is an enlarged view of an area surroundedby a dotted line in FIG. 18A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, when the sub-mirror bouncesuppression member 512 is rotated counterclockwise against the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510, the contactportion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 iscontacted with the right edge of the hole 500 a.

Accordingly, even when the sub-mirror holder 504 is bounced near themirror-down position, bouncing energy is consumed by causing thesub-mirror bounce suppression member 512 to move against the urgingforce of the sub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. Moreover, sincethe contact portion 512 f of the sub-mirror bounce suppression member512 is contacted with the right edge of the hole 500 a, a bounce amountof the sub-mirror holder 504 is limited.

According to the embodiment, as described above, when the sub-mirrorholder 504 is at the mirror-down position, the sub-mirror holder 504 canbe urged toward the mirror-down position by the urging force of thesub-mirror bounce suppression spring 510. When the sub-mirror holder 504is at the mirror-up position, the sub-mirror holder 504 can be urgedtoward the mirror-up position by the urging force of the sub-mirrorbounce suppression spring 510. Thus, inversion torque such as generatedby a toggle spring is no longer required when the sub-mirror holder 504is at the intermediate position between the mirror-down position and themirror-up position. Moreover, the bounce of the sub-mirror holder 504near the mirror-down position and the bounce of the sub-mirror holder504 near the mirror-up position can be both suppressed with the simpleconstruction.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2012-026160, filed Feb. 9, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising: a mirror holder arranged tohold a mirror and being rotatable between a mirror-up position and amirror-down position; a mirror box; an adjusting member arranged toadjust the mirror-down position of the mirror holder with rotation ofthe adjusting member relative to the mirror box; a rotating memberrotatably mounted to the adjusting member; and an urging member arrangedto urge the rotating member in one direction, wherein the mirror boxincludes a hole and the mirror holder includes a cam portion, whereinthe rotating member includes a contact portion arranged to be able tocontact with one edge of the hole and a follower portion arranged to beable to trace the cam portion, wherein when the mirror holder is at themirror-down position, the follower portion traces a first region of thecam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position byan urging force of the urging member, wherein when the mirror holder isat the mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second regionof the cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-upposition by the urging force of the urging member, wherein when themirror holder is at an intermediate position between the mirror-downposition and the mirror-up position, the contact portion is contactedwith the one edge of the hole by the urging force of the urging member,and wherein when the mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-downposition or near the mirror-up position, the contact portion iscontacted with an opposite edge of the hole against the urging force ofthe urging member.
 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein when themirror holder is at the intermediate position between the mirror-downposition and the mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a thirdregion of the cam portion and the mirror holder is not urged toward themirror-down position and toward the mirror-up position.
 3. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein when the mirror holder is at themirror-down position or the mirror-up position, the contact portion isnot contacted with any of the edges of the hole.